The Russian
Navy has decided against construction of Lada class submarines (Project
677) and will instead modernize its existing boats, Navy Commander-in-Chief
Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The design of the diesel-electric Lada class was completed at the end
of the 1990s, but none of the planned boats have entered service, although
the lead ship in the class, the Saint Petersburg, is undergoing trials
with the Baltic Fleet, Vysotsky said.

“The Russian Navy does not need the Lada in its current form,”
he said.

Vysotsky also said the first the non-nuclear Russian submarine with
anaerobic propulsion may begin trials in 2014.

Currently all of Russia’s submarines are either nuclear or diesel-electric
powered.

“It is entirely possible
we will receive a test version of an air-independent power plant in the
next few years. On boats of the Lada class, two of which are already laid
down. Trials may begin in 2014. That is absolutely realistic,” he
said.

In addition, all of Russia’s active strategic submarines will be
armed with Liner ballistic missiles, an advanced version of the Sineva
missile, Vysotsky said.

“For now only those on combat patrol in the Pacific Ocean are equipped
with them. But in future all our active strategic submarines - Delfin
and Kalmar (Delta III and Delta IV) - will be armed with these missiles,”
he said.

Construction of a new aircraft carrier will begin before 2020, Vysotsky
said.

“Actual construction of the ship will begin before 2020 and will
be completed after 2020. The design of the new carrier complex will be
determined in the course of two years, by 2014,” he said.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is currently the Russian Navy’s only active
aircraft carrier.

Vysotsky confirmed that the Bulava ballistic missile and the strategic
nuclear submarine Yury Dolgoruky would enter service simultaneously this
year.